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Is Oklo Stock's Sky-High Valuation Justified or Simply Driven by Hype?
ZACKS· 2025-07-23 14:56
Company Overview - Oklo Inc. (OKLO) is currently trading at a trailing 12-month price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 31.77x, significantly higher than the industry average of 5.58x and competitors like Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) at 12.09x and Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) at 7.47x [1][4][8] Financial Performance - As of early 2025, Oklo reported no revenues despite years of development, with an operating loss of $17.9 million and a cash outflow of $12.2 million from operating activities during the March quarter, indicating high operational costs [4][5] - The company has not yet brought a commercial product to market, with its first nuclear plant expected to operate only by late 2027 or early 2028 [4][5] Regulatory Environment - Oklo's business model heavily relies on U.S. government support, requiring favorable policies, contracts from the Department of Defense (DOD), and approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) [5] - The NRC's approval process is known to be slow and complex, and Oklo is still in the early pre-application stage for its first plant, indicating a long path ahead before construction or power generation can commence [5] Market Sentiment - Despite the lack of current revenue and commercial products, Oklo's stock has surged 551% over the past year, outperforming the industry's composite growth of 56.2%, driven by investor optimism regarding the future operation of its Aurora plant [6][8] - The stock's high valuation appears to be based on future potential rather than current business fundamentals, as there have been no earnings estimate revisions for 2025 [12] Competitive Landscape - In contrast to Oklo, Talen Energy is generating revenues through its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), supplying electricity to AWS data centers [10] - Constellation Energy is expanding its nuclear offerings to meet the growing demand for power from AI and cloud computing, positioning its nuclear fleet as a stable long-term solution for hyperscale data centers [11]
Oklo vs. NuScale: Which Nuclear Startup Stock is the Better Player Now?
ZACKS· 2025-05-29 15:46
Core Insights - The global clean energy sector is evolving, with nuclear energy stocks like Oklo Inc. and NuScale Power gaining attention due to rising government support and investment in small modular and advanced nuclear technologies [1][2] Summary of Oklo Inc. (OKLO) - Recent Achievements: Oklo signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to support the development of its Aurora powerhouse and completed borehole drilling for site characterization at Idaho National Laboratory [4][5] - Financial Stability: As of Q1 2025, Oklo had cash and cash equivalents of $201 million, down from $228 million at the end of 2024, but reported no notable debt, indicating solid financial stability [7] - Challenges: Oklo has not yet started generating revenues, with its first Aurora powerhouse expected to go live in 2027, and faces high operating costs [8] Summary of NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) - Recent Achievements: NuScale reported a narrower loss per share compared to the prior year and an impressive year-over-year revenue growth of 857.1%, being the only small modular reactor company with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission design approval [9][10] - Financial Stability: As of Q1 2025, NuScale had cash and cash equivalents of $527 million, up from $447 million at the end of 2024, and reported no notable debt, indicating strong financial stability [11] - Challenges: NuScale has yet to secure a firm commercial order but expects its first order this year, while also facing industry-wide challenges [12] Earnings Per Share (EPS) Estimates - Oklo's 2025 EPS estimate is a loss of 42 cents, an improvement from a loss of 74 cents the previous year, with estimates trending upward [13] - NuScale's 2025 EPS estimate is a loss of 41 cents, a deterioration from earnings of 42 cents the previous year, with estimates remaining constant [14] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past three months, SMR has outperformed OKLO with a 128.9% increase compared to OKLO's 88%, but OKLO has shown a 437.4% increase over the past year compared to SMR's 306.1% [17] - SMR's valuation is more attractive, with a trailing 12-month Price/Book ratio of 18.97X compared to OKLO's 28.55X [18] Investment Recommendation - NuScale is currently viewed as the more attractive investment opportunity due to its revenue generation, stronger cash position, and favorable valuation compared to Oklo, which is still in the pre-revenue stage [19][20]